Chili fundraiser helps cemetery association

Neighbors and pals in Tebbetts enjoy a weekend chili cook-off, which raised funds for the Middle River Cemetery Association.
Neighbors and pals in Tebbetts enjoy a weekend chili cook-off, which raised funds for the Middle River Cemetery Association.

TEBBETTS, Mo. - The chili was hot, and so was the competition.

It was hot but friendly - the participants in the first-ever Middle River Cemetery Association chili cook-off were friends and neighbors.

"I just moved back to Tebbetts for the third time," said Debbie Karaff, cook-off participant and sister of the organization's president. "(What draws me back) is the community, that they get together and do these things to help each other out."

Funds from the weekend's cook-off went to aid maintenance at the Middle River Cemetery, a nearby cemetery. Though the earliest graves may date back to the 1820s, it's still in active use.

"My mom and dad are there and I plan on ending up there, too," Karaff said.

It's a labor of love and dedication to the tiny town's history, for the association members as well.

"My mother, dad and several sisters are buried there," said Dean Jones, vice president of the cemetery association. "I was out in it before we had an association."

Association members continue to map the cemetery and search for unmarked graves with the help of ground-penetrating radar. A chart showing the graves found so far hung on the wall at the cook-off.

"If you know someone that's buried there and don't see their name, come talk to us," Jones said.

The year has been a costly one, according to member Randy Shiverdecker. In addition to the usual maintenance costs and renting the radar, a tornado brought a number of trees down. Interest from an investment meant to cover maintenance expenses isn't going as far as it once did.

"In the past, donations and interest (have covered costs), but interest isn't anything anymore," he said.

Folks at the meal, which was organized in part by the local chapter of Oddfellows, paid $6 apiece to enjoy nine different chilis, hot dogs, potato soup and dessert.

"My family's buried out there, so I made some chili and thought I'd help out," Josh Fisher said.

Ultimately, Bill Zumwalt, husband of association president Faye Zumwalt, brought home the first prize in the sweet (mild) chili category.

"I put a can of pork and beans in," he said. 

"It's the way Mom used to make it."

Sam Richards took first in the spicy category with his "hot-enough-to-make-you-sweat" riff on the Wendy's recipe. He and his wife also brought homemade ice cream for dessert.

The Oddfellows also host a dinner in the Tebbetts community center on the first Monday of every month, with funds going to their annual 4th of July supper. Visit on March 3 for fried fish between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Adults pay $10.